Summary of this article
- The RSS frames the Northeast not as a periphery but as an ancient centre of Hindu civilisation disrupted by colonialism and Christianity.
- Through cultural retelling—like linking Krishna to Arunachal or recasting the Battle of Saraighat—the Sangh integrates regional histories into its nationalist narrative.
- Critics argue these assimilation efforts erase tribal distinctiveness and reinforce mainstream cultural dominance under the guise of unity.
In contemporary scholarship, nation-building is widely understood as an ongoing project. Those located on the geographical and socio-cultural margins are often the last to fully identify with the nation. This delay arises partly from the dominant conceptions of the nation itself. |